Burner for normally liquid solidified fuel



A ril 28, 1964 R. E. K'RUCK I 3,130,774

BURNER FOR NORMAL-LY LIQUID SOLIDIFIED FUEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1962 FIG. I.

lHlllllH FIG. 2.

INVENTOR RALPH E KRUCK ATTGRNEYS.

April 28, 1964 R. E. KRUCK BURNER FOR NORMALLY LIQUID SOLIDIFIED FUEL Filed Aug. 30, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RALPH E. KRUCK ATTORNEYS.

April 28, 1964 R. E. KRUCK BURNER FOR NORMALLY LIQUID SOLIDIFIED FUEL Filed Aug. 50, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7

llllllllllllllllllllll 1,

INVENTOR RALPH E. KRUCK 2.2% g I I ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,13%,774 BURNER FQR NGALLY LIQUID SQLHDIFEED FUEL Ralph E. Kruclt, Elaistlell Point, Clinton, Conn. Filed Aug. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 220,959 8 Claims. (311. 158-86) This invention relates to burners for normally liquid solidified fuel.

Burners of the type to which the invention relates are described in Herron Patent 2,35 6,788 and Laliberte Patent 2,610,674. These burners include means for receiving an open fuel receptacle containing solidified fuel, means defining a combustion space for vapor issuing from an open receptacle disposed in the said receiving means, and a control structure for controlling communication between the fuel receptacle and the combustion space and for sealing the receptacle from the combustion space. A principal object of the invention is to provide improved means for controlling such communication and for providing such a seal.

According to the invention, there is provided an improvement in a burner of the above-mentioned type. The improvement is in the burner control structure and col prises a shutter means movable transversely of the vapor path from the fuel receptacle to the combustion space and between a closed position in which the fuel receptacle is closed to the combustion space, and an open position in which the fuel receptacle is in communication with the combustion space. Further, there is included a hous ing for the shutter means. The housing includes a restraining member disposed over the shutter means and a plate member disposed beneath the shutter means. The restraining member, and the said plate member serve to limit movement of the shutter means to movement transverse of the said vapor path. The plate member has means defining an opening therein for communicating the fuel receptacle with the combustion space when the shutter is in the open position. The plate member also has a flexible member providing a gasket disposed about the periphery of the said opening, the gasket being for receiving in sealing relationship on its lower side the periphery of the receptacle opening and on its upper side the shutter means when the shutter is in the closed position. Also included are means for urging the receptacle toward the gasket, whereby with the shutter in the closed position a susbtantially vapor-tight liquid seal for the receptacle is provided.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the restraining member of the shutter means housing is a plate disposed over the shutter means, and the upper and lower plates are secured together about the peripheral portions thereof by a susbtantially vapor-tight seal. Further, within the said seals, the plates are spaced to permit move ment of the shutter means therebetween. The shutter means can include a shutter plate, a pivot mounting for the shutter plate, and handle means for manual actuation of the shutter plate.

The invention is further described in reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a burner as can be provided with the improvement of the invention;

1 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22 in FIG. 1; V

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of shutter means accord ing to the invention and showing parts of the burner in combination with which the shutter means can be used; FIG. 5 is a top plan view of shutter means according to the invention and showing parts of a burner in combination with which a shutter means can be used;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the upper plate of the shutter means shown in FIG. 5 and taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view, in cross section, showing a shutter means according to the invention and a fuel receptacle for use in combination therewith;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view in cross section, corresponding to the view shown in FIG. 7, and showing an alternative construction for the shutter means; and

FIG. 9 is an elevation view in partial cross section showing a pivot mounting for a shutter of a shutter means according to the invention.

In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings,'the burner includes a burner housing 11 having fiame opening 12 and grill 13. As can be best been in FIG. 3, the burner assembly includes burner shield 14, a first upright tubular flue 15, a second upright tubular flue 16, the said second flue being disposed coaxially within the said first flue. These flues are perforated throughout or substantially throughout their length. The second or inner tubular flue 16 has a top closure 17 and a bottom closure 18. Thus, the tubular flues define an annular combustion space 19, and a central air duct 20. Air inlet tubes 21 communicate the central air duct 20 with the outside of the first or outer tubular flue 15. Thus, air from without the outer tubular flue 15 can enter through the tubes 21 to within the central a r duct 20, and can then leave the air duct through the perforations thereof and enter the annular combustion space 19. The burner assembly further includes heat intensifying shield 22.

The stove is particularly intended for use with solidified hydrocarbon fuel, such as suitably solidified kerosene. To this end, the stove includes the cup 23 which serves as means for receiving an open fuel receptacle (not shown) as is provided by opening the can in which the solidified fuel is normally supplied. Vapor issuing from an open receptacle disposed in the cup 23 passes from the cup to the combustion space 19 wherein it is mixed with air and burned.

The invention provides an improved control structure for controlling communication between the cup 23 and the combustion space and for sealing the receptacle. The control structure can permit fully open communication between the cup 23 and the combustion space 19, or the closing off of communication between these parts. Alternatively, the control structure can permit limiting communication between the mentioned parts to the extent desired whereby to control the amount of vapor passing to the combustion space, and hence to control the extent of burning and heat generation of the stove.

The control structure includes shutter means movable transversely of the vapor path and between the closed position and the open position. Thus, the control structure includes the shutter 24, the pivot mounting 25 for the shutter, and the handle 26. By manual actuation of the handle 26, the shutter can be positioned as is desired to open communication as aforesaid, to closed communication as aforesaid, or to selectively position the shutter between the open and closed positions.

The receptacle 23 is positioned in a drawer 27. The drawer has lower in-turned flanges 28 which are received in the U-bends 29 of the drawer housing 30, the drawer housing being fixedly positioned in the stove housing 11. A knob 31 mounted on rod 32 which is connected to the drawer 27 at 33, permits operation of the drawer. The mounting of the rod 32 at 33 is a swivel-type mounting permitting up and down and sidewise movement of the knob 31 on the other end of the rod 32. The swivelmounted end of the rod is threaded and nuts 34 threaded onto the rod 32 and positioned on either side of the flange 35 which is integral with the plate 36, the plate 36 being secured to the drawer 27. A slot 38 in the front plate 39 of the drawer 27 has a vertically extending leg 4th and a horizontally extending leg 41, so as to permit vertical and horizontal movement of the rod 32. Further, a spring 43 inter-connects the rod 32 with the top wall 44 of the drawer 27, whereby the rod 32 is urged upwardly. The rod 32 has upwardly bent portion 46 which engages the bottom 47 of the cup 23. With the knob in the position shown in FIG. 1, the rod 32 is disposed in the horizontal leg 31 of the slot 38 and is urged upwardly by the spring 43. The horizontal slot 41 locks the rod at the elevation corresponding to the horizontal slot 41 and provides the bent portion 46 in the position shown in FIG. 2. The cup 23 fits loosely in the opening defined by downturned flange 48 in the drawer top 44, and with the rod in the position shown in FIG. 2, the cup is in a lowered position corresponding to the position of the bent portion 46 of the rod 32. Upon moving the knob 31 to the vertical leg 40 of slot 38, the spring 43 urges the rod 32 upwardly, whereupon the bent portion 46 of the rod 32 moves upwardly and presses the cup 23 upwardly through the opening in the drawer top 44. The cup 23 is then disposed in a position such that a fuel receptacle contained therein is provided in position for operation of the stove. Fuel receptacles are placed in or removed from the cup 23 by opening and closing the drawer 27 and appropriate manipulation of the knob 31. The lowered position for the rod 32 and the cup 23 is shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, and the raised position for these elements is shown in phantom in these figures.

The shutter means for controlling communication between the fuel receptacle contained in the cup 23 and the combustion space 19 includes the housing 50 which comprises upper plate 51 and lower plate 52. These plates are secured together by the U bend 53 at the periphery of the upper plate 51, which engages in substantially vapor-sealing relation the periphery 54 of the lower plate 52. Within this peripheral seal, the plates are spaced to provide the space 55, and within this space 55 is posi tioned the shutter 24. The upper plate 51 is provided with an opening 56 defined by the upturned flange 5711 which serves as a mounting for the outer tubular flue 15, and the lower plate 52 is provided with an opening 57 of larger diameter than the opening 56. The openings in the upper and lower plate are aligned to provide communication between the combustion space 19 and the cup 23. A gasket 58 is provided at the opening 57 in the lower plate 52, the said gasket being arranged for receipt in sealing relation on its lower side, when the cup 23 is in the raised position of the peripheral edge portion of the cup opening. Further, the gasket 58 receives in sealing relation on its upper side the shutter 24 when the shutter is in the closed position as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The gasket 58 can be of suitable non-metallic, fireresistant material and can be secured to the lower plate 52 by any suitable means, such as by cementing. Among the materials usable for the gasket are: flexible or compressible materials known for such surfaces, for example, the gasket can be asbestos or butyl-asbestos material.

Provision of a gasket according to the invention permits the effective sealing against leakage around the peripheral edge of a fuel receptacle, and provides a positive closure when the shutter is in the closed position so that seepage of vapors to the burner, when the shutter is in a closed position, is prevented. The gasket 58 provides a seal between the gasket and the peripheral edge 59 of the opening in the cup 23, and a seal between the gasket 58 and the shutter plate 24.

Alternative forms of the sealing means are shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. In FIG. 7, the gasket 58 is joined to the upper side of the lower plate 52. To facilitate mounting of the gasket in this manner, the portion of the lower plate 52 adjacent the opening 57 therein is provided with a recess 60 for receiving the gasket in a manner such that movement of the shutter 24 in the space 55 is not interfered with. In FIG. 8, the upper plate 51 is of metal, and the lower plate 52 is of gasket material and the gasket 58 is formed integral with the lower plate 52. This is to be contrasted with the construction as is indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and FIG. 7, wherein the upper and lower plates of the shutter means are each of metal.

Further details and structural modifications of the shutter means are shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the shutter means according to the invention, and showing the shutter 24 in the full open position. In FIG. 5, the upper plate 51 conforms in shape to the space required for movement of the shutter 24, and the peripheral edge 62 of the upper plate is secured to the lower plate by spot welds 63 to provide a substantially vapor-tight connection between the plates. The upper and lower plates of the shutter means can be formed of thin sheet metal material, and, advantageously, to impart to the material resistance to warping as would interfere with movement of the shutter, the plates can be provided with ribs. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the upper plate 51 is provided with ribs 64 and 55.

As shown in the drawings, the shutter is formed by a single plate. This is a preferred construction. If de sired, however, the shutter can be formed of more than one plate. Thus, a construction as is shown for a shutter in Laliberte Patent 2,610,674 can be utilized.

Where the shutter is of a single plate, the mounting thereof is preferably a pivot mounting permitting not only selection of the open and closed positions but intermediate position as well. Further, the pivot mounting should be substantially vapor-tight.

A substantially vapor-tight mounting is indicated in FIG. 9. Here, metal discs 67, which can be of stainless steel, are positioned in complementary openings formed in the upper plate 51 and the lower plate 52; spacer washers 68 are positioned intermediate the shutter 24 and the upper and lower plates. The spacer washers can be of silicon glass and can fit snugly between the plates and the shutter to provide the desired sealing. The washers 68 are of larger diameter than the discs 67 and hence serve to retain the mounting assembly in place in the shutter means. The discs 67 and the washers 68 are secured together by rivets 69, and the rivets further secure to the mounting assembly, the handle 26. The shutter 24 is actuated by manual manipulation of the handle 26 to pivot the shutter on the pivot mounting 70.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the invention provides for the burner for solidified fuel, an effective means for sealing the fuel receptacle when the burner is not in use. An indication of the effectiveness of the seal of the invention is that the burner provided with the seal is suitable for use aboard ship where extensive precautions are necessary in the use of materials such as solidified fuels. Where a seal according to the invention is utilized, it is not necessary to close the fuel receptacle with a cover as may be provided with the receptacle for vapor-tight sealing of the fuel prior to initial opening of the receptacle. Rather, the shutter means according to the invention can be depended upon to provide the required seal.

It will be appreciated that the solidified fuel can be deposited directly in the cup 23 so that the cup 23 serves as the fuel receptacle and the drawer top 44 serves as the means for receiving the open fuel receptacle. Thus, the can in which fuel is supplied can serve as the fuel receptacle.

What is claimed is:

1. In a burner of the normally liquid solidified fuelburning type having means for receiving an open fuel receptacle, means defining a combustion space for vapor issuing from an open receptacle disposed in the receiving means, and control structure for controlling communication between the fuel receptacle and the combustion space and for sealing the receptacle, the improvement in control srtucture which comprises shutter means movable transversely of the vapor path between a closed position in which the fuel receptacle is closed to the combustion space, and an open position in which the fuel receptacle is in communication with the combustion space, a housing for the shutter means, said housing including a restraining member disposed over the shutter means, and a plate member disposed beneath the shutter means, said retaining member and said plate member serving to limit movement of the shutter means to transversely of the vapor path, said plate member having means defining an opening therein for communicating the fuel receptacle with the combustion space when the shutter means is in the open position, said plate member having a flexible member providing a gasket disposed about the periphery of the opening therein for receiving in sealing relation on its lower side the periphery of the receptacle opening, and on its upper side the shutter means when the shutter is in the closed position, and means for urging the receptacle towards the gasket whereby with the shutter in the closed position a substantially vapor-tight seal for the cepetacle is provided.

2. In a burner of the normally liquid solidified fuel type having means for receiving an open fuel receptacle, means defining a combustion space for vapor issuing from an open receptacle disposed in the receiving means, and control structure for controlling communication between the fuel receptacle and the combustion space and for sealing the receptacle, the improvement in control structure which comprises shutter means movable transversely of the vapor path between a closed position in which the fuel receptacle is closed to the combustion space and an open position in which the fuel receptacle is in communication with the combustion space, a housing for the shutter means, said housing including an upper plate disposed over the shutter means and a lower plate disposed beneath the shutter means, said plates being joined about peripheral portions thereof to provide a substantial vapor seal and being spaced within the seal to permit movement of the shutter therebetween, said plates having means defining openings therein for communicating the fuel receptacle with the combustion space when the shutter means is in the open position, said lower plate having a flexible material providing a gasket disposed about the periphery of the opening therein for receiving in sealing relation on its lower side the periphery of the receptacle opening and on its upper side the shutter means when the shutter is in the closed position, and means for urging the receptacle toward the gasket, whereby with the shutter in the closed position a substantially vapor-tight seal for the receptacle is provided, said shutter means comprising a plate for interposition in the vapor path as aforesaid, a pivot mounting for the plate to permit the movement thereof as aforesaid, and handle means connected to the pivot mounting for manula operation of the shutter plate.

3. A burner according to claim 2, said pivot mounting including means for substantially vapor sealing of the pivot mounting to prevent escape of vapor from the pivot mounting.

4. A burner according to claim 3, in which there is but one shutter plate for controlling communication and sealing as aforesaid, said shutter plate being mounted for selective positioning as desired at positions between the said open and closed positions.

5. A burner according to claim 2, said upper plate being formed of sheet metal and having ribs therein strengthening the metal to prevent warping thereof.

6. A burner according to claim 2, said upper and lower plates being formed of metal, the gasket being formed of non-metallic, fire-resistant material secured to said lower plate.

7. A burner according to claim 2, said upper plate being formed of metal, said gasket being formed of nonmetalilc, fire-resistant material, said lower plate being formed of the material which forms the gasket and being integral with the gasket.

8. A stove for burning normally liquid solidified fuel comprising a first upright tubular flue, a second tubular flue of lesser diameter, and coaxial with said first flue, said first and second flues each being perforated and together defining an annular combustion space, a bottom closure and a top closure for said second flue, at least one air inlet tube extending transversely through the lower part of said first and second flues, and into communication with the inside of said second flue for conducting air to within said second flue, means for receiving a fuel receptacle for communication thereof with said annular combustion space, control structure for controlling communication between the fuel receptacle and the said annular combustion space and for sealing the receptacle, said control structure comprising shutter means movable transversely of the vapor path from a fuel receptacle disposed in the receiving means to said annular combustion space, between a closed position in which the fuel receptacle is closed to the combustion space and an open position in which the fuel receptacle is in communication with the combustion space, a housing for the shutter means, said housing including an upper plate disposed over the shutter means and a lower plate disposed beneath the shutter means, said plates being sealed about peripheral portions thereof to provide substantial vapor seals and being spaced within said seals to permit movement of the shutter therebetween, said shutter means including a shutter plate, a pivot mounting for the shutter plate, and handle means for manual actuation of the shutter plate, said pivot mounting including a substantially vapor-tight seal for the shutter means mounting, said plates having means defining openings therein for communicating the fuel receptacle with the combustion space when the shutter means is in the open position, said lower plate having a flexible material providing a gasket disposed about the periphery of the opening therein, for receiving in sealing relation on its lower side the periphery of the receptacle opening and on its upper side the shutter means when the shutter is in the closed position, and means for urging the receptacle toward the gasket, whereby with the shutter in the closed position a substantially vapor-tight seal for the receptacle is provided.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,610,674 Laliberte Sept. 16, 1952 

8. A STOVE FOR BURNING NORMALLY LIQUID SOLIDIFIED FUEL COMPRISING A FIRST UPRIGHT TUBULAR FLUE, A SECOND TUBULAR FLUE OF LESSER DIAMETER, AND CO-AXIAL WITH SAID FIRST FLUE, SAID FIRST AND SECOND FLUES EACH BEING PERFORATED AND TOGETHER DEFINING AN ANNULAR COMBUSTION SPACE, A BOTTOM CLOSURE AND A TOP CLOSURE FOR SAID SECOND FLUE, AT LEAST ONE AIR INLET TUBE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THROUGH THE LOWER PART OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND FLUES, AND INTO COMMUNICATION WITH THE INSIDE OF SAID SECOND FLUE FOR CONDUCTING AIR TO WITHIN SAID SECOND FLUE, MEANS FOR RECEIVING A FUEL RECEPTACLE FOR COMMUNICATION THEREOF WITH SAID ANNULAR COMBUSTION SPACE, CONTROL STRUCTURE FOR CONTROLLING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE FUEL RECEPTACLE AND THE SAID ANNULAR COMBUSTION SPACE AND FOR SEALING THE RECEPTACLE, SAID CONTROL STRUCTURE COMPRISING SHUTTER MEANS MOVABLE TRANSVERSELY OF THE VAPOR PATH FROM A FUEL RECEPTACLE DISPOSED IN THE RECEIVING MEANS TO SAID ANNULAR COMBUSTION SPACE, BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION IN WHICH THE FUEL RECEPTACLE IS CLOSED TO THE COMBUSTION SPACE AND AN OPEN POSITION IN WHICH THE FUEL RECEPTACLE IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMBUSTION SPACE, A HOUSING FOR THE SHUTTER MEANS, SAID HOUSING INCLUDING AN UPPER PLATE DISPOSED OVER THE SHUTTER MEANS AND A LOWER PLATE DISPOSED BENEATH THE SHUTTER MEANS, SAID PLATES BEING SEALED ABOUT PERIPHERAL PORTIONS THEREOF TO PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL VAPOR SEALS AND BEING SPACED WITHIN SAID SEALS TO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF THE SHUTTER THEREBETWEEN, SAID SHUTTER MEANS INCLUDING A SHUTTER PLATE, A PIVOT MOUNTING FOR THE SHUTTER PLATE, AND HANDLE MEANS FOR MANUAL ACTUATION OF THE SHUTTER PLATE, SAID PIVOT MOUNTING INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY VAPOR-TIGHT SEAL FOR THE SHUTTER MEANS MOUNTING, SAID PLATES HAVING MEANS DEFINING OPENINGS THEREIN FOR COMMUNICATING THE FUEL RECEPTACLE WITH THE COMBUSTION SPACE WHEN THE SHUTTER MEANS IS IN THE OPEN POSITION, SAID LOWER PLATE HAVING A FLEXIBLE MATERIAL PROVIDING A GASKET DISPOSED ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF THE OPENING THEREIN, FOR RECEIVING IN SEALING RELATION ON ITS LOWER SIDE THE PERIPHERY OF THE RECEPTACLE OPENING AND ON ITS UPPER SIDE THE SHUTTER MEANS WHEN THE SHUTTER IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION, AND MEANS FOR URGING THE RECEPTACLE TOWARD THE GASKET, WHEREBY WITH THE SHUTTER IN THE CLOSED POSITION A SUBSTANTIALLY VAPOR-TIGHT SEAL FOR THE RECEPTACLE IS PROVIDED. 